Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Cover Reveal & Blast for HIGHER OCTAVE (Heavy Influence, #2.5) by Ann Marie Frohoff

Heavy Influence Fan Appreciation:
The Heavy Influence Trilogy is an edgy sexually charged coming of age story.

Hurry and grab your copy for free now!

Grab Higher Octave Free Now:
HIGHER OCTAVE (Heavy Influence, #2.5)
By: Ann Marie Frohoff
Publisher: AMF Publishing
Pages: 85
Release Date: February 24, 2015


A modern day "Walk the Line" love story through the ages.  
Jake Masters has fallen from musical grace. His inner demons didn’t care about the awards, the multi-platinum records, the legions of fans around the world, nor his undying love for Alyssa.
 When Jake comes through fray, blurry about his future, he meets an unlikely inspiration, reigniting his passion and reason for living.
New Inspiration reignites his passion. Will love remain the same?
Fan Appreciation - Grab Free Now:
Amazon.com |Smashwords
Grab First Kiss now for .99:
Jake, an up and coming teenage rocker on the verge of stardom, reconnects with Alyssa, the younger girl next door. When she becomes something more they're forced to face the harsh realities on his road to fame and the expectations of their friends and family. 

Sacrifices are made as everything changes as they know it.


FIRST KISS (Heavy Influence, #1)
By: Ann Marie Frohoff
Publisher: AMF Publishing
Pages: 524
Release Date: December 2013

17 year old high school senior, Jake Masters, front man of a rising rock band, finds new interest in his younger freshman next door neighbor Alyssa Montgomery. Their relationship breaks hearts; stirs jealousy and band infighting. When they’re brought to new found awareness of body and soul, will rightful boundaries be crossed? 

Will the right decisions and choices, which are detrimental to the band and its future, be made through the haze of infatuation? Will Jake’s absences on the road lead to another filling his shoes? 

Jake and Alyssa’s lifelong friendships are strained and tested; secrets are kept, admitted and shared. Family bonds are broken, as others grow stronger. Who knew a first love could cause so many problems? Then again, in their eyes, there are no problems as long as they’re together. 

In the end, will his new found muse bring down everything he’s worked so hard to achieve or will she inspire positive creative change; that will carry him and his band to stardom.
Grab Fever Pitch now for .99:
A Modern Day Sexually Charged 'WALK THE LINE' Romance.


The edgy Heavy Influence Trilogy is about young, intense and reckless love between a rising rock star and his younger muse. 

Follow their journey through temptation, deception & forbidden love.



FEVER PITCH (Heavy Influence, #1.5)
By: Ann Marie Frohoff
Publisher: AMF Publishing
Pages: 150
Release Date: May 24, 2014

I WAS CRUSHED BY MY HUNGER FOR HIM AND I COULD BARELY BREATHE.  
Desire? Definitely. Forever? Maybe.  

When Jake and Alyssa's virtual affair peaks while his band tours Europe, Alyssa decides it is Jake that she wants for her 18th birthday. She surprises everyone, including Jake, with a planned trip to London.  
After three years apart and with their devastating breakup behind them, will their reunion be everything they've both dreamed of? 
Alyssa is soon thrown into Jake’s stardom, delicate family matters and a side of him she's never seen before.

Grab Broken Notes now for .99:

BROKEN NOTES (Heavy Influence, #2) 

By Ann Marie Frohoff
Release Date: December 28, 2014
Paperback, 279 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Tough Issues / New Adult
Being rich, famous and in an award winning, multi-platinum band can't save you from life's tragedies.

When Jake and Alyssa begin to build a life together in New York City, a death and an unfortunate set of events rattle Jake's very existence. Alyssa clings to her own dreams. Jake's blurred take on life may end what they've fought so hard to keep.
Music Fades With A Death. Dreams And Impulses May Kill A Future.

Heavy Influence Links:

Book Trailer:


Original Soundtrack:

About The Author:
Ann Marie ("Annie") Frohoff grew up in sunny Southern California. As a teen and young adult, she spent her time frequenting and living in nearly every beachside city up and down the coast. 
Ann Marie is a debut author whose vision to tell a story started out like many other aspiring writers, with a dream, literally. 
After taking her then eight-year-old daughter to a concert, her dream weaving took on a life of its own. Long story short, she quit her high- paying corporate job and went for broke to follow her dream. 
The first installment in her Heavy Influence Trilogy, FIRST KISS, released June 11, 2013 — the series is a story about young, reckless love between a rising rock star and his younger muse, spanning 10 years of their tumultuous and passionate relationship. Each book in the Trilogy will come with a soundtrack of original music, of which the lyrics will appear in the pages of the books. 
Annie has settled in the South Bay area of Los Angeles with her family.
Social Media Links:
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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Road Tripping

Today is the day...it is a day earlier than expected but that is not something you will hear me complain about, nope not at all.  Today is the day we start our road trip to the place where dreams do come true.

I'm going to.....



 ~Yessssssss~


Now I am not going there just for fun, food, rides and to see if I can get Gaston to do some more push-ups.
   
                        

 Although there will be a lot of that going on too.  I am also going there to run the Disney Glass Slipper Challenge which is a 19.3 mile run split into two days.  A 10k this coming Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday.  I am really excited about this as it will be my first major run from suffering an injury last year, I am also a bit terrified that I am not as ready as I should be, but I am totally going to get it done.  I won't be the fastest by a long shot but I will finish and I will be proud of what I have done even if I am the last Princess or StarLord in the case of the Half Marathon across the finish line!


This is very true....I totally love Disney.  I love Disney almost as much as I love books.  I say almost because although I will be having a blast at the park I will still have books in the back of my mind, haha.  On that note Here is a quick peek of the books I am taking with me (one on my Kindle app), my 'pocket Starlord, and my ever trusty laptop 'Brownie'.  




Book Releases May 19th 2015

Lion Heart by A.C. Gaughen, book three in her Scarlet Series, an absolute favorite YA series of mine.  Huge thank you to Jen over at Jenuine Cupcakes for loaning it to me.  Make sure to check out her awesome blog.  She is one of my blogging heroes and mentors.

Book Releases February 26th, 2015

Hidden Library by Heather Lyons.  A most anticipated sequel for me in her (New Adult) The Collector's Society Series.  This is a Fantasy series with a nice bit of romance that starts off based around the tale of Alice in Wonderland but has so many amazing ties to other books.  I am rather particular about Finn, you know from Huckleberry Finn.  *grins*

Book Releases February 24th, 2015

Mark of the Thief by Jennifer Nielsen.  This is a fantasy Middle Grade read based around the time of Rome and Julius Caesar that I am really looking forward to. 

Book Released February 3, 2015

BeastKeeper by Cat Hellisen is another Fantasy Middle Grade read with a paranormal bent.  I am looking forward to reading the twists and turns I know this book will take readers on.  


Book Released February 3, 2015

Finding Serendipity by
 Book Releases March 3, 2015

The Alex Crow by Andrew Smith.  This book has already got me anxious, you just never know what you are going to get with Andrew Smith but it is bond to be witty and thought provoking which I love even more so because these are Young Adult books! 


Book Releases March 10, 2015

The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows.  Princesses, Spies, Best Friends, Romance, Magic...who doesn't want that.  I know that like her other books, the Newsoul Series, these books are going to be amazing in their world building and drag me straight into the heart of it!  



So yeah that is an awful lot of books to take on vacation to read, but I am really hoping to get through them all and the 12 hour drives there and back will come in handy for that, haha.  Anyhoo, I just wanted to let you guys know that even though you may not see me around much for the next two weeks (I go straight to Apollycon in Philadelphia after leaving Walt Disney World and seriously I am almost as excited about that as I am about WDW) I am out here and I am reading, I hope you will be too.  

Happy Reading Everyone....See You Soon!

~Malissa

One Last Sin - Cover Reveal



Release Date: March 23


Book Description:

Bleu MacAllister’s fate lies in the hands of the enemy. Complicated circumstances have rendered her helpless to escape their clutches so she must await rescue by her less than lily-white knight. All is right again when she’s back in the arms of the man she loves until long buried secrets are unearthed. With them, Bleu finally discovers her mother’s killer along with far more than she could possibly imagine. Can she find happiness with a husband who will go to any length to keep her safe, even if it means denying her of the one thing she believes she wants most in this world?








Book Description:

Bleu MacAllister is consumed. A horrific childhood incident has caused every decision in her life to revolve around bringing a monster to justice. With years spent studying The Fellowship, an organized crime brotherhood of liars, thieves, and killers, Bleu will rely on her skills as a special agent to cut Thane Breckenridge off at the knees. But walking hand in hand with retribution means risking collateral damage, in the form of Breckenridge’s son Sinclair—until Sin becomes so much more than Bleu bargained for. She’s always known this undertaking would place her life in danger—she never imagined her heart would be as well.




Amazon ~ iBooks

Book Description:

Bleu MacAllister is in hiding less than three months when Sinclair Breckenridge discovers her whereabouts. Her former lover, the future leader of a criminal organization known as The Fellowship, resists the tug of his heart heartstrings in her direction. Instead, he opts to watch over his beloved from afar. And she has no idea. But Sin's sacrifice is short-lived. His bonny lass is a hunted traitor. He fears Abram's assassins are closing in, leaving him with one solution for saving Bleu--make her his wife. Marriage seems an easy fix for their dilemma but wedded bliss is brief when the couple finds trouble lying in wait beyond the realm of the brotherhood. Will the original revenge seeker find herself the object of collateral damage?


Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasn’t looked back yet.

When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. When she’s being domestic, she’s listening to her iPod and visualizing scenes for her current work in progress. Every story coming from her always has a song to inspire it.

Representation: All questions regarding subsidiary rights for any of my books, inquiries regarding foreign translation and film rights should be directed to Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich.



Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Ember - Excerpt and Review








Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Publication Date: February 19, 2015
Publisher: Rachel Van Dyken (Self-Publication)
Series: The Eagle Elite Series, book 5
Genre: New Adult Romance (Mob)
Age Recommendation: 17 and up
Rating: 5 stars


Book Description:

I am a Killer. A Rapist. A Monster.
I know only pain and survival.
That is until the Cappo's sister walked into my life.
And changed everything.

She's a light who makes my darkness darker, her smile makes my heart turn to ice, and I can't escape the fear her seductive looks instill--knowing it's only a matter of time before I fail--again, and take her for myself.
This is the story of my redemption.
But it's not pretty...I died, and now I'm alive, but not living, breathing but not surviving. I am Phoenix De Lange, son to a murdered mob boss, estranged brother, horrible friend, monster in the making, newest leader to one of the most powerful families in the Cosa Nostra.
And I will have my vengeance.
Or die trying.
I am Phoenix De Lange.
Death is all I know.
Until she offers me a piece of life--I can't resist taking.




Excerpts:

PROLOGUE:


Phoenix
“Do it,” my father spat. “Or I will.”
I looked at the girl at my feet and back at my father. “No.”
He lifted his hand above my head; I knew what was coming, knew it would hurt like hell but had no way to fight back — he’d already starved me of my food for the past three days for arguing, for trying to save the girl and her cousin.
His fist hit my temple so hard that I fell to the ground with a cry. The click of his boots against the cement gave me the only warning I’d have as he reared back and kicked me in the ribs; over and over again he kicked. The girl screamed, but I stayed silent. Screaming didn’t help; nothing did.
I waited until he was done — I prayed that he would kill me this time. I prayed so hard that I was convinced God was finally going to hear me and take me away from my hell. Anything was better than living. Anything.
“You worthless—” Another kick to the head. “—piece of shit!” A kick to my gut. “You will never be boss, not if you cry every time you must do the hard thing!” Finally, blessed darkness enveloped my line of vision.
I woke up from the nightmare screaming, not even realizing that I was safe, in my own bed. With a curse I checked the clock.
Three a.m.
Well, at least I’d only had one nightmare — that I’d remembered. I’d been living with Sergio for the past week; his house was so big that I’d basically taken the east wing, and he’d taken the West, said he’d hated living alone anyway. I wasn’t stupid; I knew the guy wasn’t exactly a big fan, but it worked. I needed to stay in the States while I figured shit out.
And I wasn’t ready to leave. Not when I needed to learn all I could from Nixon. Not when I had responsibility.
And not when I had those black folders freaking burning a hole in my mind.
Luca hadn’t just left me an empire; he’d left me secrets. I wasn’t sure what was worse, knowing everything there was to know about those I was supposed to be protecting or knowing that at any minute one of them could turn on us.
“Hey!” Bee barged into my room.
“Damn it!” I pulled the blankets over my naked body, my heart picking up speed at her tousled hair and bedroom eyes. Tex’s sister, Tex’s sister. My body wasn’t accepting that — physically it wasn’t accepting any information other than she was beautiful.
And it was dark.
I looked away, scowling.
“I heard screaming.” Bee took a step forward, her perfume floating off her body like an aphrodisiac or drug, making me calm, making me want something I had no business wanting.
“Yeah, well…” I gave her a cold glance. “…clearly I’m fine, so you should go. Actually, why are you here? You know you live with Tex, right?”
She shrugged and sat on my bed. I clenched my fists around the blankets to keep from reaching out to her. It was getting harder and harder to ignore her warmth — when I lived in a constant state of near-death cold.
“He’s with Mo, and they need privacy. I’m not stupid. So I asked Sergio if I could move in for a while.”
“You did what?” I asked in a deadly tone, one I was sure would probably give her nightmares later.
She grinned. “I’m your new roomie!” Bee bounced on the bed and sent me a shy look from beneath her dark lashes. “Admit it, you miss our slumber parties.”
Forget the nightmare — I was looking at it.



EXCERPT 2:

I wasn’t sure how to act. Wasn’t sure if I should apologize for attacking him or thank him for not laughing in my face. Embarrassed and irritated that he was most likely going to ignore whatever it was between us even if it killed him, I stared hard at the cement floor.
“How are you feeling, little girl?”
“I’m not little.”
“You want me to call you fat?”
“No.” I lifted my head. “Call me gorgeous like you did last night.”
“Well, shit.” Phoenix ran his hands over his face then grabbed my arm and dragged me down the hall into a darkened corner. “You remember?”
“You kissed me.”
“Prove it.”
“What’s wrong with you?” I pushed against his chest. “You like me! Admit it!”
Phoenix made a face. “You were drunk, launched yourself at me, and I caught you. Did we kiss?” His eyes went completely black. “Yeah, we did, but it meant nothing.”
“Really?”
“Really.” He hissed out a breath through his teeth.
“Prove it.”
“What?”
I pushed him against the wall. “Prove it meant nothing. Let me kiss you now, and if it meant nothing it will be like… what? Kissing your sister.”
“I’ve sworn off women.”
“So this should be an easy test then, right?”
“Bee…” Phoenix’s face was pained, as if I was holding a gun to his head rather than offering to kiss him. Was the idea so abhorrent? “Please…” His voice had a pleading tone I’d never heard before. “Don’t do this.”
“One. Little. Test.” I rose up on my tip toes and kissed him full on the mouth.
His lips refused to move against mine.
I wrapped my arms around his neck.
He stiffened even more.
Irritated, I bit his lower lip. He gasped, and I slid my tongue inside his mouth. He pushed me away with a curse then wiped his lips. “Done. Your little test is done. I didn’t respond. Happy now?”
His eyes were furious; the blue flashed like lightning against his skin. His fingertips shook as he made a fist.
“You like me.”
“Bee…” Phoenix pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingertips. “…find someone your own age, someone who’s interested in you in the way you deserve, alright?” His tone was gentle, and maybe that was what hurt the most.
It was like he was letting me down slowly, hoping I didn’t break.
But the joke was on him.
Because I was already broken.
I didn’t want boys my age — I wanted him.
“You’re a good liar.” My eyes narrowed. “And you’re lucky I’m patient.”
“Lucky?” He sputtered out a laugh. “That you like toying with me?”
“No, lucky that even though you constantly push me away…I keep coming back for more. But, Phoenix… everyone’s time eventually runs out.”
“Go to breakfast, Bee.”
“Go to hell, Phoenix.”
 




My Review:  

The Eagle Elite Series by Rachel Van Dyken just simply keeps getting better and better.  I have thoroughly loved watching Rachel grow as an author but also watching these characters grow.  Phoenix's book is no exception to this.  I knew this was going to be a tough read, even if you haven't read the other books and gotten the back story just take a look at that synopsis.

"I am a Killer. A Rapist. A Monster.
I know only pain and survival."

There is nothing more you want to do but hate Phoenix, hate him for everything he has done to girls he didn't know, girls he did, and the boys that called him family, yet deep down you pray for his redemption.  There aren't many authors I have come across in the past who have managed to take such an irredeemable character and make you hope for them, make you pray that their 'family' accepts them, forgives them, and let them find love.  Sherrilyn Kenyon was able to pull this off beautifully with Styxx, but other than her Rachel is the only one to fully convince me so far that the anti-hero can be fully redeemed.  

This is a heartbreaking book, get your tissues ready.  Phoenix's story is terrifying, crushing, brutal, painful, but you walk away with a deep understanding of who he truly is, who he wants to be, who he and who he will become and it is all for one girl who refuses to see him for his past.  A girl who believes in his future and his deep personal desire to be more than what he was made into...to be his own man and to finally know true love.  I loved Bee (Bianca), Tex's sister.  This girl doesn't back down even when she's terrified or pushed away.  She refuses to be the porcelain doll kept tucked away safely on a high shelf.  She is a girl that know what she wants and pursues it.  She actually reminded me of myself a little.  My poor husband got badgered to 'death' by me when we were in high school because I KNEW he was the man I would marry and I wasn't taking no for an answer, so I am all 'hell yeah Bee, get your man, hahaha.  

You guys know I LOVE Tex...Tex is my guy, but I totally could have kicked his arse this story.  I know that all the characters, Nixon, Tex, and Chase are trying to deal with the pain that Phoenix caused, but I sure do wish they could have tried to see beneath the man he portrayed and into the man he truly was.  Did he do awful, terrible, no good very bad things, absolutely.  Was he conditioned into that behavior, YES.  Does it negate the behavior, no.  But does it give you a minute to consider what he personally was going through, that maybe what he needs most is friends to guide him, to show him a better path, YES.  I also realize Bee is Tex's sister, but come on Tex...let's think on your mess with Mo, ahem....Nixon's sister, just saying.  

We also get a bit of a side story here that will lead us up to book 6, Elude.  It is Sergio's story and I have to say I am pretty darned nervous.  I kinda had some mad love for Sergio...but now, dude...You got some splannin' to do!  

To sum it all up, I loved this book...I loved it almost as much as I loved Elicit.  Like I said This series just keeps getting better and better and I can not wait to see how things play out.  One of my favorite aspects of these books is that while we move on to different main characters, the old characters are never gone.  We get to continue to follow them and see how they are doing each new book and I am really looking forward to seeing how Phoenix is brought back into the fold and if he ever gets truly accepted again.  

If you love darker New Adult Romance or mob based stories this series is a great one to pick up.  You can technically read each book as a Stand Alone, but I highly suggest starting at the beginning so you have all the back story.  



 

Elite:

Elect:

Entice:

Elicit: 

BANG BANG:

ENFORCE




Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! 
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